Sports Impact Point Indicator

ABSTRACT

A sports impact point indicator of planar form has a rear surface with a contact adhesive for adhering the indicator to the face of a golf club or bat, and the indicator is sized to cover a major portion of the face of the club or bat. The indicator comprises an upper sheet and base layer which are releasably adhesive together under pressure such that they will adhere together at the impact point when the club or bat is used to strike a ball, to indicate the impact point. The indicator can be erased by wiping a user finger or thumb across it top surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of nonprovisional application Ser.No. 11/615,093, filed Dec. 22, 2006, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention comprises a sports impact point indicator particularlyfor use in golf but which may also be used in other sports or intraining therefor, such as baseball or softball, or cricket for example.

BACKGROUND

In golf correctly hitting the ball with the club, such that the ball isimpacted by the club at or near the intended point on the club face tomaximise the probability that the ball will fly correctly, is veryimportant. Devices have been proposed previously, for adhering to theface of a golf club, which are marked when the club is subsequently usedto strike a ball and which thereby mark or indicate the impact pointbetween the club face and the ball. After playing a stroke the golfercan examine the indicator on the club face to identify the impact pointof the club face on the golf ball. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,033,746, 5,597,361,5,779,556, 5,142,309 and 7,086,956 all disclose various forms of impactpoint indicators for use in golf. Some prior indicators can only be usedonce or a small number of times, because it is not possible to clear themark indicating the impact point after each stroke, and before the nextstroke is played with the golf club. On the other hand the golf clubball-impact marker of U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,746 does enable clearing ofthe mark indicating the impact point between shots by peeling back thetop sheet of the indicator to clear the indicator, but to enable thisthe top sheet must be fixed along one edge only, and there is potentialfor the top sheet to become torn from the indicator without greatdifficulty on the golf course during play when a club carrying indicatoris used a number of times to play a ball. The indicator may not lastmore than a few shots.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,539 discloses an erasable and rewritable labelcomprising a base layer of contrasting colour and a transparent ortranslucent upper sheet which can be adhered to the base layer underwriting pressure and which label can be erased by wiping a users fingeror thumb over the top surface of the upper sheet.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved form of sportsimpact point indicator.

In broad terms the invention in one aspect comprises a sports impactpoint indicator comprising a base layer, an upper sheet extending overthe base layer and having a periphery fixed in relation to the baselayer, the indicator being planar in form, longer than it is wide andcomprising a rear surface comprising a contact adhesive for adhering theindicator to the face of a club or bat, the indicator being of apredetermined size in relation to the club or bat whereby the indicatorcan cover a major portion of the face of the club or bat, which uppersheet and base layer are in a first area releasably adhesive togetherunder pressure on the upper sheet such that the upper sheet and the baselayer will adhere together when a club or bat to a face of which theindicator is adhered is used to strike a ball, to indicate through theupper sheet the impact point between the ball and the club or bat face,but allow the upper sheet to move sufficiently relative to the baselayer to separate the upper sheet from the base layer when a user'sfinger or thumb is wiped across a top surface of the upper sheet, theupper sheet also extending in a second area over a wipe-start region ator towards a longitudinal end of the indicator in which wipe-startregion the upper sheet and base layer are not adhesive together and overwhich wipe-start region a user's finger or thumb may be placed fromwhich to begin said movement to separate the upper sheet from the baselayer.

In broad terms the invention in another aspect comprises a sports impactpoint indicator comprising a base layer, an upper sheet extending overthe base layer and having a periphery fixed in relation to the baselayer, the indicator being planar in form, longer than it is wide andcomprising a rear surface comprising a contact adhesive for adhering theindicator to the face of a club or bat, the indicator being of apredetermined size in relation to the club or bat whereby the indicatorcan cover a major portion of the face of the club or bat, which uppersheet and base layer are releasably adhesive together under pressure onthe upper sheet such that the upper sheet and the base layer will adheretogether when a club or bat to a face of which the indicator is adheredis used to strike a ball, to indicate through the upper sheet the impactpoint between the ball and the club or bat face, but allow the uppersheet to move sufficiently relative to the base layer to separate theupper sheet from the base layer when a user's finger or thumb is wipedacross a top surface of the upper sheet, the upper sheet also comprisingat or towards a longitudinal end of the indicator a discontinuity in theupper sheet, the upper sheet otherwise providing a smooth andsubstantially wrinkle-free top surface to the indicator.

In broad terms the invention in a further aspect comprises a sports clubor bat having affixed to a face thereof an impact point indicatorcomprising a base layer, an upper sheet extending over the base layerand having a periphery fixed in relation to the base layer, which uppersheet and base layer are releasably adhesive together under pressure onthe upper sheet such that the upper sheet and the base layer will adheretogether when the club or bat is used to strike a ball to indicatethrough the upper sheet the impact point between the ball and the clubor bat face, but allow the upper sheet to move sufficiently relative tothe base layer to separate the upper sheet from the base layer when auser's finger or thumb is wiped across a top surface of the upper sheet,the upper sheet also extending over a wipe-start region at or towards alongitudinal end of the indicator in which the wipe-start region, theupper sheet and base layer are not adhesive together and over whichwipe-start region a user's finger or thumb may be placed from which tobegin said movement to separate the upper sheet from the base layer, theupper sheet also comprising windows in the upper sheet which extendlongitudinally of the club or bat face and at which the upper sheet istransparent or translucent, and one or more discontinuities in the uppersheet, in the wipe start region and at or towards one end of theindicator.

In broad terms in a further aspect the invention comprises a method ofindicating an impact point between a sports club or bat and a ballcomprising affixing to a face of the sports club or bat an impact pointindicator comprising a base layer, an upper sheet extending over thebase layer and having a periphery fixed in relation to the base layer,which upper sheet and base layer are releasably adhesive together underpressure on the upper sheet such that the upper sheet and the base layerwill adhere together when the club or bat is used to strike a ball toindicate through the upper sheet the impact point between the ball andthe club or bat face, but allow the upper sheet to move sufficientlyrelative to the base layer to separate the upper sheet from the baselayer when a user's finger or thumb is wiped across a top surface of theupper sheet, the upper sheet also extending over a wipe-start region ator towards a longitudinal end of the indicator in which the wipe-startregion, the upper sheet and base layer are not adhesive together andover which wipe-start region a user's finger or thumb may be placed fromwhich to begin said movement to separate the upper sheet from the baselayer, the upper sheet also comprising windows in the upper sheet whichextend longitudinally of the club or bat face and at which the uppersheet is transparent or translucent, and one or more discontinuities inthe upper sheet, in the wipe start region and at or towards one end ofthe indicator.

The term ‘comprising’ as used in this specification and claims means‘consisting at least in part of’, that is to say when interruptingindependent claims including that term, the features prefaced by thatterm in each claim will need to be present but other features can alsobe present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Preferred forms of sports impact indicators of the invention aredescribed by way of example and without intending to be limiting as todetail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows one preferred form of golf impact point indicator, for adriver golf club, showing the front face thereof,

FIG. 2 shows fitting of the indicator of FIG. 1 to the face of a golfdriver,

FIG. 3 shows the indicator of FIG. 1 adhered to the face of a driver,from a point directly in front of the face of the club,

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are views similar to FIG. 3, each showing the face ofa driver with the indicator of FIG. 1 adhered thereto, after use of thedriver to hit a golf ball, showing the point of impact between the balland the face of the driver in each case,

FIGS. 7 a to 7 g schematically illustrate how the impact point mark onthe indicator may be cleared after a shot has been played, for reuse ofthe indicator,

FIG. 8 shows another preferred form golf impact point indicator, forgolf irons showing the front face thereof,

FIG. 9 shows the indicator of FIG. 8 adhered to the face of a golf iron,from directly in front of the face of the golf iron, and

FIG. 10 shows an expanded longitudinal cross-section view through apreferred form golf impact point indicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORMS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 3 in particular the golf impact pointindicator of the invention is a planar product 1 typically of a fewmillimetres thickness or less, and having a contact adhesive on a rearsurface, enabling the indicator to be adhered (typically after peelingof a release sheet from the rear face of the indicator to expose thecontact adhesive) to the face of a golf club 20, whether a golf driveror iron (or putter). The structure of the indicator will be furtherdescribed in detail subsequently. In use the indicator is simply adheredto the face of the golf club as shown in FIG. 2, with FIG. 3 showing theindicator adhered to the front face of the golf club from directly infront of the club face.

In a preferred form the indicator includes a marking 10 which extendslongitudinally of an upper sheet of the indicator, and visuallylongitudinally partitions the front face of the indicator as shown. Inthe preferred form shown the upper sheet also comprises an opaqueperipheral border 11 which is printed on the upper sheet, which isotherwise formed of a translucent or transparent material. The uppersheet is thereby divided into two similarly shaped windows 15 whichextend longitudinally of the upper sheet on either longitudinal side ofthe division line 10 (and in the preferred form are approximate mirrorimages of one another about the longitudinal axis of the indicator).

When a shot is played with the club, the upper sheet will adhere to thebase layer at the point of impact between the club face and the ball,thereby showing the impact point in contrast to the balance of the uppersheet on the front face of the indicator. FIGS. 4 to 6 show a golfdriver 20 with an indicator 1 of the invention adhered to the facethereof, after playing of shots in which the club face has impacted theball at three different points on the club face, leaving an impact pointmark indicated at 12 in each case. In FIG. 4 the impact point is towardsthe heel of the club. In the driver shown in FIG. 5 the impact point 12is towards the toe of the club, and in FIG. 6 the impact point 12 iscentrally on the club face.

After each shot the impact point mark may be cleared from the indicator.This is illustrated in FIGS. 7 a to 7 g. Like FIGS. 4 to 6, FIG. 7 ashows a club 10 with an indicator 1 adhered to the front face thereof,after playing a stroke which has left a contrasting mark 12 on theindicator. To clear the indicator the user wipes his or her finger orthumb across the top surface of the upper sheet, to erase each of thetwo windows in the upper sheet, through which the impact point mark isvisible. FIGS. 7 b to 7 d show a user's thumb being moved across thelower part of the indicator to erase one of the windows, while FIGS. 7 eto 7 g show a user's thumb being moved across the upper part of theindicator to erase the upper window. The indicator is then clear forreuse, as shown in FIG. 7 g.

FIG. 8 shows a preferred form indicator 1 of the invention for a golfiron, and FIG. 9 shows the club head 20 of an iron with the indicator 1of FIG. 8 adhered to the face thereof. The indicator is used in the sameway as described previously.

The preferred form indicator shown in FIG. 1 for golf drivers has awidth which is greatest intermediate of the length of the indicator andin particular generally midway of the length of the indicator (length inthe direction of the division line 10). The indicator is of a sizewhereby the indicator covers a major part of the face of the golf clubwhen adhered thereto. In the preferred form shown the indicator also hasan oval shape, but the indicator could be formed of any other shape suchthat when the indicator is adhered to the face of a driver it willoccupy a major part of the area of the club face. The indicator shown inFIG. 8 for golf irons has a width which is greatest at or adjacent onelongitudinal end of the indicator as shown, and is least at the oppositeend.

In both cases it is preferred to provide a line 13 transversely acrossthe length of the indicator, on the upper sheet intermediate of thelength of the indicator, as a reference line, and which will be aboutmidway of the length of the indicator, or of a club face when theindicator is adhered thereto. The indicator may also comprise othermarkings 14 on the upper sheet, for indicating for example the optimumimpact point.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-section view through a preferred formindicator. The indicator comprises a base layer 2 and an upper sheet 3extending over the base layer. The base layer 2 comprises a layer of waxor similar synthetic material which will releasably adhere with theupper sheet 3. The base layer 2 is coated onto a backing sheet 5. Thebase layer is coloured or appears coloured for example dark blue, oralternatively any other desired colour or combination of colours indifferent regions.

Suitable materials for forming the base layer include waxes such aparaffin wax, blends of paraffin wax with other waxes, blends of otherwaxes, and other substances such as synthetic wax like substances havinga waxy consistency, which can be applied as a thin layer and will adherewith the upper layer. Some base layers such as some synthetic wax-likebase layers may be coloured by having a dye added, or alternatively thebase layer may be made to appear coloured by printing a colour on asubstance and then applying a clear or near clear wax or similarmaterial over the coloured surface to form a coloured base layer. Thebase layer may comprise any other suitable material than wax, which willadhere with the upper sheet 3 and which also allows the base layer andtop sheet to be subsequently separated to erase the label. It ispossible that the material of the backing sheet 5 could form the baselayer so that the base layer 2 and backing sheet 5 are one and the same.

The upper sheet 3 is preferably translucent and may comprise atranslucent plastic film, but may alternatively be transparent. A clearplastic film may be given qualities of translucence by etching,texturing or calendaring the film and particularly the bottom surface ofthe film, for example. This may also assist the upper sheet to adherewith the base layer in use. A clear film may also be made translucent byprinting the film with a translucent ink or a layer of conventionalopaque ink which is thick enough to make the film appear translucent.The upper sheet may also be tinted with a different colour relative tothe colour of the base layer, so that the indicator normally appears tohave the colour of the upper sheet when cleared, and indicates a pointof impact in the colour of the base layer, or in a colour resulting froma combination of the base layer and upper sheet colours.

In the preferred forms regions of the upper sheet other than the windows15, such as the opaque border 11, may carry permanently printed mediasuch as advertising or branding media. Most preferred for forming theupper sheet are polyester films or similar materials preferably having aglossy or substantially glossy surface. The opaque peripheral border 11and division line 10, where provided, may be printed on the top side orunder side of the upper sheet.

Adjacent the base layer 2 may be provided a wipe-start region 2 a. Thewipe-start region may be formed as shown in FIG. 10 by applying nomaterial of the base layer ie, no waxy or similar material, to thebacking sheet 5 beneath the upper sheet 3 in the wipe-start region 2 a.The region 2 a may be the same width across the indicator as the baselayer 2. The upper sheet and the base layer may be made non-adhesivetogether in the wipe-start region by not applying material comprisingthe base layer beneath the upper sheet in the wipe-start region, or acoating may be applied to the under surface of the upper sheet 3 in thewipe-start region 2 a, which will make the upper sheet non-adhesive tothe material of the base layer 2. Another variation is that such acoating is applied to the material of the base layer 2 in the wipe-startregion 2 a, instead of applying the coating to the undersurface of theupper sheet 3. This has the same effect, of making the upper sheet 3 andbase layer 2 non-adhesive together in the wipe-start region 2 a.

One or more discontinuities may be formed in the upper sheet 3, betweenthe part of the upper sheet extending over the wipe-start area 2 a andthe balance of the upper sheet which extends smoothly over the baselayer 2. In the preferred form shown each discontinuity is an upwardlydomed region 4 in the upper sheet 3. A domed region 4 in the upper sheet3 is provided at a longitudinal end of each of the windows 15 in thepreferred forms of indicators shown in the drawings. Each dome ordiscontinuity 4 is upwardly convex, and will trap beneath it a smallamount of air, between the upper sheet at that point and the base layer2 and/or backing sheet 5, which when a user's finger or thumb is movedfrom one side of the indicator to the other across the discontinuity 4,will tend to be caught in front of the user's finger or thumb as itmoves, and pushed across the indicator in front of the user's fingerbetween the upper sheet and base layer 2 to facilitate separation ofsame and clearing of the indicator.

The domed region 4 may be formed by stamping or embossing the top sheet,for example to form a continuous oval crease line in the top sheetaround the periphery of and defining each discontinuity 4. Inalternative forms a single larger convex raised shape in the upper sheetmay extend transversely across the indicator at one end, having atransverse dimension approximately equal to the full width of theindicator adjacent the ends of both windows 15. Alternatively thediscontinuity may comprise approximately parallel crease lines spaced afew millimetres from one another extending transversely across theindicator. Alternatively the discontinuity 4 may be a downward orreverse crease or wrinkle rather than an upward formation as shown.

As referred to previously, when a shot is played with a club to which anindicator has been affixed, this will cause the upper sheet 3 to adhereto the base layer 2 at the point of impact so that the colour of thebase layer is then clearly visible through the upper sheet 3, to markthe impact point. To subsequently clear the indicator a users finger orthumb is placed on the wipe-start region 2 a and wiped across the topsurface of the upper sheet 3 from the wipe-start region 2 a includingover the discontinuity 4. This will separate the upper sheet 3 and thebase layer 2 as the user's finger moves clearing the indicator of anyprior impact point mark(s).

Sports impact point indicators of the invention are preferably formed asa sealed unit thereby preventing the ingress of contaminates andimproving mechanical robustness and structural integrity of theindicator. However, small air vents may be provided in the form of oneor more slits and/or pinholes near the periphery of product such as ateither end for example, which can assist in easy clearing of theindicator.

The preferred embodiments shown in the drawings and described above areimpact point indicators for use in golf. Impact point indicators of theinvention may be made in shapes and configurations suitable for use inother sports such as baseball, softball or cricket for example. Forexample, a longer impact point marker in strip form comprising a numberof longitudinally extending parallel windows may be adhered to thecurved end of a baseball or softball bat, or to the face and/or edges ofa cricket bat.

The foregoing describes the sports impact point indicator or theinvention and preferred forms thereof. Alterations and modifications andcombinations of features not specifically described as will be obviousto those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within thescope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims.

1. A sports impact point indicator comprising a base layer, an uppersheet extending over the base layer and having a periphery fixed inrelation to the base layer, the indicator being planar in form, longerthan it is wide, and comprising a rear surface comprising a contactadhesive for adhering the indicator to the face of a club or bat, theindicator being of a predetermined size in relation to the club or batwhereby the indicator can cover a major portion of the face of the clubor bat, which upper sheet and base layer are in a first area releasablyadhesive together under pressure on the upper sheet such that the uppersheet and the base layer will adhere together when a club or bat to aface of which the indicator is adhered is used to strike a ball, toindicate through the upper sheet the impact point between the ball andthe club or bat face, but allow the upper sheet to move sufficientlyrelative to the base layer to separate the upper sheet from the baselayer when a user's finger or thumb is wiped across a top surface of theupper sheet, the upper sheet also extending in a second area over awipe-start region at or towards a longitudinal end of the indicator inwhich wipe-start region the upper sheet and base layer are not adhesivetogether and over which wipe-start region a user's finger or thumb maybe placed from which to begin said movement to separate the upper sheetfrom the base layer.
 2. A sports impact point indicator according toclaim 1 wherein the upper sheet comprises a marking which extendslongitudinally of the upper sheet and visually partitions the uppersheet longitudinally.
 3. A sports impact point indicator according toclaim 1 wherein the upper sheet comprises two windows in the upper sheetwhich extend longitudinally of the upper sheet and in which the uppersheet is transparent or translucent.
 4. A sports impact point indicatoraccording to claim 1 wherein the upper sheet comprises an opaqueperipheral border and a division line which extends longitudinally ofthe upper sheet and visually partitions the upper sheet longitudinally.5. A sports impact point indicator according to claim 1 wherein theindicator has a width which is greatest intermediate of the length ofthe indicator.
 6. A sports impact point indicator according to claim 1wherein the indicator has a width which is greatest generally midway ofthe length of the indicator.
 7. A sports impact point indicatoraccording to claim 6 wherein the indicator has an approximately ovalshape.
 8. A sports impact point indicator according to claim 6 whereinthe indicator is of a size whereby the indicator can cover a major partof the face of a driver golf club when adhered thereto.
 9. A sportsimpact point indicator according to claim 1 wherein the indicator has awidth which is greatest at or adjacent one longitudinal end of theindicator.
 10. A sports impact point indicator according to claim 9wherein the indicator is of a size whereby the indicator can cover amajor portion of the face of an iron golf club when adhered thereto. 11.A sports impact point indicator according to claim 1 comprising avisually apparent line extending transversely of the length of theindicator across the upper sheet of the indicator intermediate of thelength of the indicator.
 12. A sports impact point indicator accordingto claim 1 including markings for indicating an optimum impact pointapproximately centrally on the upper sheet.
 13. A sports impact pointindicator according to claim 1 wherein the upper sheet comprises a oneor more discontinuities in the upper sheet extending across the uppersheet in the wipe-start region, the upper sheet otherwise providing asmooth and substantially wrinkle-free top surface to the indicator. 14.A sports impact point indicator according to claim 2 wherein the uppersheet comprises two discontinuities in the upper sheet, in thewipe-start region and at or towards one end of the indicator, onediscontinuity on either longitudinal side of the upper sheet defined bysaid marking which extends longitudinally of the upper sheet andvisually partitions the upper sheet, the upper sheet otherwise providinga smooth and otherwise substantially wrinkle-free top surface to theindicator.
 15. A sports impact point indicator comprising a base layer,an upper sheet extending over the base layer and having a peripheryfixed in relation to the base layer, the indicator being planar in form,longer than it is wide and comprising a rear surface comprising acontact adhesive for adhering the indicator to the face of a club orbat, the indicator being of a predetermined size in relation to the clubor bat whereby the indicator can cover a major portion of the face ofthe club or bat, which upper sheet and base layer are releasablyadhesive together under pressure on the upper sheet such that the uppersheet and the base layer will adhere together when a club or bat to aface of which the indicator is adhered is used to strike a ball, toindicate through the upper sheet the impact point between the ball andthe club or bat face, but allow the upper sheet to move sufficientlyrelative to the base layer to separate the upper sheet from the baselayer when a user's finger or thumb is wiped across a top surface of theupper sheet, the upper sheet also comprising at or towards alongitudinal end of the indicator a discontinuity in the upper sheet,the upper sheet otherwise providing a smooth and substantiallywrinkle-free top surface to the indicator.
 16. A sports impact pointindicator comprising a base layer, an upper sheet extending over thebase layer and having a periphery fixed in relation to the base layer,and a rear surface comprising a contact adhesive for adhering theindicator to the face of a club or bat, the indicator being of apredetermined size in relation to the club or bat whereby the indicatorcan cover a major portion of the face of the club or bat, which uppersheet and base layer are releasably adhesive together under pressure onthe upper sheet such that the upper sheet and the base layer will adheretogether when a club or bat to a face of which the indicator is adheredis used to strike a ball, to indicate through the upper sheet the impactpoint between the ball and the club or bat face, but allow the uppersheet to move sufficiently relative to the base layer to separate theupper sheet from the base layer when a user's finger or thumb is wipedacross a top surface of the upper sheet, the upper sheet also comprisingtwo discontinuities in the upper sheet, at or towards one end of theindicator, one discontinuity on either longitudinal side of the uppersheet defined by a marking which extends longitudinally of the uppersheet and visually partitions the upper sheet, the upper sheet otherwiseproviding a smooth and otherwise substantially wrinkle-free top surfaceto the product.
 17. A sports club or bat having affixed to a facethereof an impact point indicator comprising a base layer, an uppersheet extending over the base layer and having a periphery fixed inrelation to the base layer, which upper sheet and base layer arereleasably adhesive together under pressure on the upper sheet such thatthe upper sheet and the base layer will adhere together when the club orbat is used to strike a ball to indicate through the upper sheet theimpact point between the ball and the club or bat face, but allow theupper sheet to move sufficiently relative to the base layer to separatethe upper sheet from the base layer when a user's finger or thumb iswiped across a top surface of the upper sheet, the upper sheet alsoextending over a wipe-start region at or towards a longitudinal end ofthe indicator in which the wipe-start region, the upper sheet and baselayer are not adhesive together and over which wipe-start region auser's finger or thumb may be placed from which to begin said movementto separate the upper sheet from the base layer, the upper sheet alsocomprising windows in the upper sheet which extend longitudinally of theclub or bat face and at which the upper sheet is transparent ortranslucent, and one or more discontinuities in the upper sheet, in thewipe start region and at or towards one end of the indicator.
 18. A clubor bat according to claim 17 wherein the upper sheet comprises an opaqueperipheral border and a division line which extends longitudinally ofthe upper sheet, which border and division line define said windows. 19.A club or bat according to claim 17 which is a golf driver or iron andwherein the indicator covers a major part of the face of a golf club.20. A club or bat according to claim 17 which is a baseball bat.